Offset side seam for an apparel item

ABSTRACT

A lower torso apparel item having an offset side seam is provided herein. The lower torso apparel item includes a front panel and a back panel, with left and right side seams that are offset from the inseam of the apparel item. In some examples, such as a pair of shorts, the front and back panels are assembled to provide left and right leg openings, with the left side seam on an anterior portion of a wearer and the right side seam on an anterior portion of a wearer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application having attorney docket number NIKE.273927/160170US02 and entitled “Offset Side Seam for an Apparel Item,” claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Prov. App. No. 62/323,164, entitled “Offset Side Seam for an Apparel Item, and filed Apr. 19, 2016. The entirety of the aforementioned application is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an offset side seam for an apparel item.

BACKGROUND

Various seam locations have been proposed for assembling apparel items for the lower torso of the wearer. The seams of a lower torso apparel item may be located at or near an edge of each pattern piece, such as a set of seams located on a wearer's sides (e.g., an outseam) and inseam when mating together a front garment panel and a back garment panel on a pair of shorts. With opposing seams on the inside and outside of the wearer's legs, and with varying force applied to the garment based on the front side and back side motion of the wearer, the front garment panel and the back garment panel may shift in various directions during wear. A symmetric seam location between an inseam and outer seam region may impact translation of the front garment panel with respect to the back garment panel during movement, and muscle groups covered by the lower torso apparel item may be restricted from optimal range of motion. As a result, the seam location on a lower torso apparel item impacts both comfort and motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a front, perspective view of a wearer with a lower torso apparel item having offset side seams in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 2 depicts a rear, perspective view of a wearer with the lower torso apparel item having offset side seams of FIG. 1 in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the apparel item with offset side seams of FIG. 1 in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of an assembled pair of shorts having offset side seams in accordance with aspects herein; and

FIG. 5 depicts a bottom-up view of the left leg opening and right leg opening of the shorts of FIG. 4 in accordance with aspects herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the disclosed or claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms “step” and/or “block” might be used herein to connote different elements of methods employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly stated.

Aspects herein are generally directed to an offset side seam for a lower torso apparel item. The offset side seam may be incorporated into one or more sides of the apparel item such as an offset left side seam and/or an offset right side seam. The apparel item includes a hypothetical coronal or frontal plane that divides the apparel item into an equal front (anterior) half and back (posterior) half. In exemplary aspects the inseam of the apparel item is oriented along this hypothetical frontal plane. As used throughout this disclosure, the side seams being “offset” with respect to the inseam describes a side seam that is positioned along the left or right sides of the apparel item and is offset from the frontal or coronal plane. In other words, in the example of a pair of shorts, the left side seam and the right side seam may be offset with respect to the inseam, shifting the left side seam and the right side seam to the anterior side of the apparel item. Moreover, the apparel item described herein may incorporate a seam flange at the lower margin of the offset side seams. The seam flange may represent an area where the front and back panels are not affixed or joined. Thus, because of the offset nature of the side seams, the seam flange is positioned at a more anterior location of the apparel item.

The configuration thus described may have a number of functional advantages. One advantage includes an increased range of motion for a wearer of the lower torso apparel item with offset side seams. For example, a pair of shorts having offset side seams positioned toward the anterior side of the shorts provides for a greater range of motion for the big muscle groups of the thigh such as the quadriceps. As well, the seam flange provides additional ease of movement for a wearer's leg muscles on a lateral side of the upper thigh. In further aspects, the offset side seams may allow an internal capacity of the shorts to accommodate a wearer's back side adjacent a larger back panel of material, which is joined to the smaller front panel of material (adjacent the wearer's front side) along the midline inseam and the offset side seams.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, a short comprises a front panel and a back panel, wherein in an assembled configuration, the front panel is joined to the back panel at a plurality of seams to form a left leg opening and a right leg opening. In further aspects, the plurality of seams comprises: an inseam between an interior edge of the front panel and an interior edge of the back panel along a midline in an assembled configuration; a left side seam offset with respect to the inseam along the midline and between the front panel and the back panel; and a right side seam offset with respect to the inseam along the midline and between the front panel and the back panel.

In another aspect, an article of apparel for a lower torso includes: a front panel comprising an inseam edge, a left seam edge, a right seam edge, and a front bottom edge; and a back panel comprising an inseam edge, a left seam edge, a right seam edge, and a back bottom edge. In aspects, the article of apparel comprises a left leg opening having a first segment of the front bottom edge and a first segment of the back bottom edge, wherein the article of apparel comprises a right leg opening having a second segment of the front bottom edge and a second segment of the back bottom edge. In further aspects, at least a portion of the front inseam edge and the back inseam edge are joined at an inseam along a midline of the article of apparel, at least a portion of the front and back left seam edges are joined along a left side seam offset with respect to the inseam such that the left side seam is on an anterior side of a wearer in an as-worn configuration, and at least a portion of the front and back right seam edges are joined along a right side seam offset with respect to the inseam such that the right side seam is on an anterior side of a wearer in an as-worn configuration.

In yet another aspect, a pair of shorts comprises a front panel, a back panel, a left side seam on an anterior portion of the shorts, a right side seam on an anterior portion of the shorts, and an inseam along a midline of the shorts between the anterior portion and a posterior portion of the shorts.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-2, front and rear perspective views of a wearer 10 with a lower torso apparel item having offset side seams is depicted in accordance with aspects herein. The body 12 of the wearer 10 having a pair of shorts 14 is depicted from a perspective view to include the anterior (front) 16 side and a posterior (back) 18 side. Further, the shorts 14 include a front panel 20 opposite a back panel 22, which are joined at least along a pair of left and right offset side seams 24.

In some aspects, the front panel 20 and/or back panel 22 may be assembled from a single pattern piece or from multiple pattern pieces. As such, although referred to as a pair of shorts assembled from joining the front panel 20 and the back panel 22 along the offset side seams 24, it is contemplated that the front and back panels 20 and 22 may include multiple pattern pieces, such as multiple segments of fabric, that are joined together at multiple seams to provide a common material for the front and back panels 20 and 22. Accordingly, the front panel 20 may include an inseam edge, a left side seam edge, a right side seam edge, an upper edge, and a bottom edge, while the corresponding back panel 22 may include an inseam edge, a left side seam edge, a right side seam edge, an upper edge, and a bottom edge. The front panel 20 may be joined to the back panel 22 in a variety of ways, including sewing, serging, gluing, bonding, adhesives, binding, lacing, etc., and is not limited to a sewn seam edge. Further, the front panel may be attached along only a portion of the left and right offset side seam 24 edges, as shown in the various aspects having a seam flange 44 along the bottom edges of the left leg opening 40 and right leg opening 42.

As shown in the shorts side view 26 of FIG. 3, the midline 28 of the shorts 14 is a midpoint between the anterior 16 and posterior 18 sides of the shorts 14. To put it another way, the midline 28 represents an intersection line of a frontal or coronal plane that divides the shorts 14 into generally equal front and back halves. The offset side seam 24 is displaced anteriorly a distance 30 with respect to the midline 28. The left and right offset side seams 24 may be longitudinally oriented, parallel in a longitudinal direction such that the left and right offset side seams 24 join the front panel 20 and the back panel 22 at a predetermined location with respect to the midline 28. In some exemplary aspects, the shorts 14 may optionally include a pocket 32 along the offset side seam 24, with an opening along the offset side seam 24 providing access to a pocket cavity. As such, the opening of the exemplary pocket 32 of FIG. 3 is positioned in an offset location towards the anterior side 16 of the shorts 14. This location may provide easier access to the wearer 10. The pocket 32 may be an integral feature sewn into the offset side seam 24, or may include an opening proximate/adjacent to the offset side seam 24. Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof, are contemplated as being within aspects herein.

Shifting perspective, in FIG. 4, reference generally by the numeral 34, the pair of exemplary shorts 14 includes offset side seams 24 with respect to the inseam 36 of the shorts 14, and is shown in an assembled configuration. In one example, the inseam 36 is positioned along the midline 28 (depicted in FIG. 3), while the offset side seam 24 is shifted towards the anterior 16 side of the shorts 34 away from the midline 28. Accordingly, the lower portion of the offset side seam 24 is positioned closer to the large muscle groups on the upper thigh of a wearer, rather than the hips or sides corresponding to the midline 28 or inseam 36. In some aspects, the inseam 36 includes a left leg inseam and a right leg inseam. In further aspects, the left leg opening 40 includes a left inseam segment of the front panel 20 and a left inseam segment of the back panel 22, while the right leg opening 42 includes a right inseam segment of the front panel 20 and a right inseam segment of the back panel 22. Accordingly, a segment of an inseam edge may be used to refer to a portion of an interior material edge of the front panel 20 or back panel 22.

In aspects, the front panel 20 and the back panel 22 are joined along the inseam 36 and the offset side seams 24 to provide a left leg opening 40 and a right leg opening 42, as shown in the bottom view 38 of FIG. 5. Each of the left and right leg openings 40 and 42 may further include a lower edge seam flange 44 along a bottom edge of the shorts 14, which may provide for an increased range of motion for a wearer's legs when applying force against the front panel 20 and/or the offset side seams 24 (e.g., during running motions). The left leg opening 40 may include a first segment of the front panel 20 bottom edge and a first segment of the back panel 22 bottom edge, while the right leg opening 42 may include a second segment of the front panel 20 bottom edge and a second segment of the back panel 22 bottom edge. According to one aspect, the first segment of the front panel 20 for forming the left leg opening 40 may be narrower in width than the first segment of the back panel 22, providing a left offset side seam 24 in an assembled configuration. Similarly, the second segment of the front panel 20 forming the right leg opening 42 may be narrower in width than the second segment of the back panel 22, providing a right offset side seam 24 in an assembled configuration. In other words, the wider segments of the portions of the back panel 22 sewn to the inseam 36 and side seam edges of the front panel 22 provides an offset positioning of the resulting offset side seams 24.

In some aspects, the edges of each of the front and back panels 20 and 22 may be equally divided such that the outer edge of the panels becomes the offset side seam 24, and the interior edge becomes the inseam 36. During assembly, the left and right leg openings 40 and 42 may be formed, in part, by joining the front panel 20 to the back panel 22 along the inseam 36 proximate the midline 28. Additionally, the left and right leg openings 40 and 42 may be formed, in part, by joining the front panel 20 to the back panel 22 along the offset side seams 24 proximate the anterior 16 side of the shorts 14. In one example, the left and right side seams 24 are offset with respect to the longitudinally oriented inseam 36 in an anterior direction. As such, each of the resulting left and right leg openings 40 and 42 may facilitate a greater range of motion for a wearer requiring forward and backward travel of their legs in the shorts 14, with a minimized front panel 20, a maximized back panel 22, and an anterior 16 shifted, offset pair of side seams 24.

Although shown as being incorporated into a short, such as the shorts 14, it is contemplated that the exemplary offset side seam herein may be incorporated into other lower torso apparel items. Examples include pants, capris, leggings, compression pants, underwear, outerwear, and the like. Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof, are contemplated as being within the scope herein.

The present invention has been described in relation to particular examples, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its scope. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the disclosure and the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A short comprising: a front panel; and a back panel, wherein in an assembled configuration, the front panel is joined to the back panel at a plurality of seams to form at least a left leg opening and a right leg opening, wherein the plurality of seams comprises at least: an inseam between an interior edge of the front panel and an interior edge of the back panel along a midline in the assembled configuration; a left side seam offset with respect to the inseam along the midline and between the front panel and the back panel; and a right side seam offset with respect to the inseam along the midline and between the front panel and the back panel.
 2. The short of claim 1, wherein the inseam, the left side seam, and the right side seam are longitudinally oriented on the short.
 3. The short of claim 1, wherein the left side seam is offset with respect to the inseam in an anterior direction.
 4. The short of claim 1, wherein the right side seam is offset with respect to the inseam in an anterior direction.
 5. The short of claim 1, wherein the inseam comprises a left inseam segment proximate the left leg opening and a right leg inseam segment proximate the right leg opening.
 6. The short of claim 1, further comprising at least one pocket having a pocket opening aligned with at least one of the left side seam and the right side seam.
 7. The short of claim 6, wherein the pocket opening is positioned adjacent to at least one of the left side seam and the right side seam.
 8. An article of apparel for a lower torso, the article of apparel comprising: a front panel comprising a front inseam edge, a left seam edge, a right seam edge, and a front bottom edge; and a back panel comprising a back inseam edge, a left seam edge, a right seam edge, and a back bottom edge, wherein the article of apparel comprises a left leg opening defined by a first segment of the front bottom edge and a first segment of the back bottom edge, and further wherein the article of apparel comprises a right leg opening defined by a second segment of the front bottom edge and a second segment of the back bottom edge, wherein at least a portion of the front inseam edge and the back inseam edge are joined at an inseam along a midline of the article of apparel, at least a portion of the front and back left seam edges are joined along a left side seam offset with respect to the inseam such that the left side seam is anteriorly displaced with respect to the inseam, and at least a portion of the front and back right seam edges are joined along a right side seam offset with respect to the inseam such that the right side seam is anteriorly displaced with respect to the inseam.
 9. The article of apparel of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the front panel and the back panel comprises a plurality of pattern pieces.
 10. The article of apparel of claim 8, wherein the first segment of the front bottom edge is narrower in width than the first segment of the back bottom edge, and the second segment of the second bottom edge is narrower in width than the second segment of the back bottom edge.
 11. The article of apparel of claim 8, wherein the article of apparel is a short.
 12. The article of apparel of claim 8, wherein the article of apparel is a pant.
 13. The article of apparel of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the front panel material is the same material as at least a portion of the back panel material.
 14. The article of apparel of claim 8, further comprising at least one pocket formed along at least one of the left side seam and the right side seam.
 15. The article of apparel of claim 8, wherein in an as-worn configuration, the left leg opening and the right leg opening provide for greater range of motion of a wearer's legs based on the location of at least one of the left side seam and the right side seam on the anterior side, as compared to a range of motion of an article of apparel having side seams along the midline.
 16. The article of apparel of claim 8, wherein the left side seam and the right side seam are parallel in a longitudinal direction.
 17. A pair of shorts comprising: a front panel; a back panel; a left side seam on an anterior portion of the shorts; a right side seam on an anterior portion of the shorts; and an inseam along a midline of the shorts between the anterior portion and a posterior portion of the shorts.
 18. The pair of shorts of claim 17, wherein the inseam comprises a left leg inseam and a right leg inseam.
 19. The pair of shorts of claim 18, wherein the left side seam is offset with respect to the left leg inseam and the right side seam is offset with respect to the right leg inseam.
 20. The pair of shorts of claim 17 further comprising at least one lower edge seam flange integral to one or more of the left side seam and the right side seam. 